"Thank you for agreeing to see me," said the perky blonde woman. She maneuvered herself around the rustic furniture in the comfortable living room of the cozy log cabin, idly snooping through the many personal knickknacks on the shelves. She marveled at the amazing completeness of this illusion. She was acutely aware that everything around her was a phantasm, conjured from the ether solely for her benefit. The two who lived here had absolutely no need for such things.
A retinue of robotic hovercams obediently followed their mistress into the room like a flock of metal hummingbirds and parked themselves at strategic positions and awaited their cue.
"It's our pleasure," replied a man with close-cropped hair who looked like he was in his thirties. He wore a red-and-black plaid shirt and jeans, and was the supreme image of relaxation. Beside him was a petite, short-haired brunette with a smile so sweet it could put sugar out of business. Together they sat on the big sofa in the middle of the room.
The perky blonde took the big easy chair across the coffee table from the sofa and readied her handheld microphone. "It's not every day that I get to interview a pair of real live 'Q', after all," she said. "I'm sure you have a million fascinating stories our viewers would love to hear, especially since you were both human once! So, are you both ready to go tri-Dee? Good."
The reporter checked her notes, then stared directly into one of the bobbing hovercams. She cleared her throat experimentally, and began her exposition. "Good evening, this Vicki Vega reporting live on FNN straight from the home of two of the newest members of the enigmatic race known simply as the 'Q'. Sitting with me here are Commander Garek Loran, formerly Chief Engineer of Starbase 901, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Kimberly Tycho, formerly of Starfleet's infamous Banshee Squadron."
Vicki Vega turned to Garek and Kim and continued as soon as the hovercams had finished panning. "On stardate 62478.3, the two of you got married and went to live in the 'Q' Continuum because Garek was invited there by Q himself. I'll bet that's an interesting story!"
Garek and Kim looked at each other and smiled at the mention of their marriage and nodded in agreement with the reporter's summation. "Yes, that's right, Vicki" said Kim. "It was love at first sight for Garek and me! It was all very romantic; like a fairy tale come true. But becoming a 'Q'--"
Vicki smiled like a razorbeast about to pounce on its unsuspecting prey. "Oh come now, Kimberly. You don't really expect our viewers to believe that, do you?"
Kim looked confused. "Huh? Wha--?"
"I mean, all fairy tales and roses? There's always some juicy gossip in any relationship, at least in human relationships. What must 'Q' romances be like, with almost unlimited power at your fingertips? The power to have anything -- or anyone -- by simply snapping your fingers..." Vicki Vega winked conspiratorially at Kim who looked somewhat shocked at the suggestion. "Tell me about the temptations."
Vicki Vega waited for Kim to respond, but Kim just sat staring wide-eyed and mute, so she turned her attention to Garek.
"What about you, Garek? Any secret liaisons? Fits of jealousy? A wild one-night-stand with a Douwd?
Garek smiled mildly. He was taking Vicki's sensationalist innuendoes and provocations in stride. In fact, he was rather enjoying himself. 'Q' in general were an utterly uninteresting and stupefyingly boring lot, and this brief submersion back into the Prime Material Plane and the small worries of ordinary humans was a breath of fresh air to him.
"Actually, now that you mention jealousy..." he said with a teasing glint in his eye, "there was that one time Kim--"
"Me?!?" exclaimed Kim. "What did I ever do?"
"You remember, dear. That time you spent a week running around with 'Whatsizname'."
Kim's cheeks flushed crimson and she had to look away from Garek. "Oh yeah, him..."
Vicki Vega visibly perked up. "Now we're getting somewhere! Why don't you tell the viewers about that?" She extended the microphone in Kim's direction, and several hovercams jockeyed for better positions.
Kim's embarrassment grew more acute. "That's not interesting," she said dismissively, waving the matter off with her hand. "Wouldn't you rather hear about why Q invited Garek to join the Continuum?" she said hopefully, but knowing the reporter would never let the matter drop now that she'd smelled scandal.
"OH come on, darling," cajoled Garek. He was enjoying himself immensely, if the enormous ear-to-ear grin was any indication.
Kim flashed him a scathing look that promised swift and terrible retribution, but reluctantly acquiesced to his request. She took a deep breath and put aside her embarrassment. "Fine." She snapped her fingers and the cozy log cabin wavered like a reflection seen in rippling water, then was replaced by a completely different room, one with metal-lined walls. Several people were standing about the room talking, but took no notice of the sudden appearance of Vicki, Garek, and Kim.
"Don't worry, no one can see us. This is just a vision of the past," explained Kim. "It was a little over two years ago, back when I was still in Banshee Squad and Garek was Chief Engineer of Starbase 901. Lee Carter -- she was my wing commander -- came back from a dinner party in honor of the starbase's new CO. She was telling us about it and made a certain comment that I... Well, let's just say I didn't take it too well..."
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